96 With coolant leak

[JBWelding]

Hello everyone,

I have a 96 F-450 7.3 that has a crack in the front engine cover right in the thin part of the top bolt boss, where the top bolt for the oil cooler goes.

My question is does the engine have to come out to r&r the cover? My manual says so.

If this is the case I will look real hard at a repair weld with cover and engine still in the vehicle, just don't want to ruin a cover to engine gasget.

Anybody familar with the front cover?

Thanks for any advice you may have.

John.